Top 10 Sad Songs That Make You Cry

Let’s get one thing straight: I’m a man. A tough-as-nails manly man who lifts weights and watches Sportcenter and kills spiders with my bare hands – unless, of course, I’ve just gotten my nails done. And I am secure enough in my manhood to publicly acknowledge that the following sad songs can make me sob like a jilted prom queen (but, you know, a manly prom queen). Here are my top 10 sad songs that make you cry. What other songs would you add to this list?

“Have you seen the land living by the breeze?”

English acoustic brooder Nick Drake lived the kind of short, sad life that seemed designed to produce tear-jerking anthems, and Way to Blue brings on the waterworks like no other in his tragically slim body of work. With a less gifted singer at the helm, the results would have been a strings-laden sap-fest, tailor-made for early 70’s am pop; Drake takes us on a deeper journey – one that doesn’t spare us the scenic route of his broken soul.

9. Mother (John Lennon)

“I needed you. You didn’t need me.”

When the Fab Four parted ways at the close of sixties, the band’s chief frienemies John Lennon and Paul McCartney both saw their divorce as a liberation, a chance to pursue their true artistic callings. For The Cute Beatle this meant finding a home atop Billboard’s charts with a fun but forgettable series of silly love songs. Meanwhile The Smart Beatle sought a nobler path and created some of the most earnest, achingly humorless songs ever put to wax. I guess it’s true that the children (in this case, fans) suffer the most in divorce.

Still Lennon’s solo library is not without a few gems. Mother is not the feel-good hit of the summer, but good luck keeping the eyes dry during this searing ode to parental abandonment.

8. Angel of Harlem (U2)

“Lady Day got diamond eyes; she sees the truth behind the lies.”

Yes kids, before U2 became a bloated, self-important arena rock machine, they could deliver heartfelt, personal tunes, like this love letter to the legendary Billy Holiday.

7. Redemption Song (Bob Marley)

So powerful is the spell that Marley casts with this song of freedom that even his amusingly Jamaican syntax (“Old pirates, yes, they rob I; Sold I to the merchant ships”)
can’t distract us. Give I a hanky, mon. Me wants to cry.

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6. Autumn in New York (Billie Holiday)

“So on this gray and melancholy day, I’ll move to a Manhattan hotel.”

Penned and recorded a half century prior to the nightmarish events of September 11th, Lady Day’s touching torch song was obviously not intended as an homage to the darkest Autumn day in New York’s history, but tell that to my (manly) tear ducts.

5. Card Cheat (The Clash)

With a card up his sleeve, what would he achieve?”

Is Mick Jones singing about an actual down-on-his-luck gambler or is there a surprisingly sophisticated metaphor at work here? You be the judge, while I get the kleenex… uh, yeah, there’s something in my eye, that’s all…

4. Already Dead (Beck)

“Days turn to sand, losing strength in every hand.”

This obscure cut from Sea Change (aka The ‘Beck Gets Sad’ album) best embodies its author’s efforts to escape the world of irony-driven dance pop. The broken-hearted Beck doesn’t just confront the grim reaper’s sullen stare; he’s already surrendered to it.

3. She Wanted to Leave (Ween)

“I couldn’t believe… she wanted to leave.”

This unapologetically dorky novelty band — best known for such cannabis-fueled tunes as ‘Touch my Tooter’ and ‘Push th’ little Daisies’ – are fairly unlikely candidates to contribute to this list of tear duct openers. Add to that the awkward fact that ‘She wanted to leave’ is about a pirate having his long-time captive stolen from him and you’d be right to question my sanity for including it. But who knows, maybe this tale of kidnapping on the high seas is really just a metaphor for the enslavement of the human spirit and the unleashing of —

Oh, who am I kidding? It’s just a sad song about pirates.

2. Everyone Says Hi (David Bowie)

“Don’t stay in a sad place where they don’t care how you are.”

What could be more truly heartrending than a cordially phrased open letter to a recently relocated friend, complete with obligatory greetings from all those left behind –especially when the letter’s unspoken subtext is something closer to please, please come back.

1. Big John Shaft (Belle and Sebastian)

“I won’t play another heavyweight; I won’t play another big John Shaft.”

Yes, it’s a song about that Shaft – the black private dick who’s a sex machine all the chicks. Well, kind of. It’s really a tale of a burned out actor fed up with being typecast as – among other things – a cat who won’t cop out when there’s danger all about (right on!).

371 Responses

Ok, so I know if you open this list up to country songs it would be a Top 100 list(and Im really not a huge fan of country music). However, there is a country song that makes me sob every time I hear it. Its called “Streets of Heaven” by Sherrie Austin. Anyone with kids would definitely understand.

Well i agree with this i've listened to the songs and not one of them really makes me cry. You need to find some more to be honest, if you find ones which are sad enough they will make people cry and then you have accomplished it

I’m shocked you’re the first person to mention Forever and Always by Parachute! In my opinion that is the saddest song of all time, hands down. I’m guessing most people just haven’t heard it, because I know it would place highly on these saddest song lists. Anyway, my point is I completely agree with you, and I’m very surprised that more people don’t!

The cutters lullaby- Tamara Minaoui (poem/ lullaby. Not a song)
How to save a life- The Fray
Welcome to the black parade- My Chemical romance
If it means alot to you- A Day To Remember
The last night- Skillet
Drown- Three Days Grace

I knew J. Frank Wilson personally. I visited him the nursing home where he ended up passing away. And yes, you are right…his version is and will always be the best! Thank you for bring this to light! XOXO, libchick4

Yes, this song is soo sad! But, in my opinion “Black” is even more heart breaking. There are loads of songs that make me feel emotional, but no song except this one has ever made me actually cry.
But all Pearl Jam song are great and emotional, they’re just an amazing band

I totally agree! and along with that (even though it's country) The Little Girl by John Michael Montgomery. It's about a little girl whose dad is an acholic and mom is a druggie. She hides behind their couch as her dad kills her mom, then himself and at the end Montgomery sings "She said I know that man up there on that cross I don't know His name But I know He got off Cause He was there in my old house and held me close to His side As I hid there behind our couch The night that my parents died"

Ok. I get the whole former music journalist thing but you should understand that not everyone is the same. Sure none of these songs actually touched my heart but it’s not a matter of personal preference. I love sad songs and these weren’t. But everyone has an opinion. I love for example
“I Can’t Decide” by There For Tomorrow and my current favourite is “Pages” by 3 Doors Down. Both are amazing and I recommend them. Also no one has the right to criticize one’s taste or preference in music.

what about chrismas shoes? thats so sad. and theres this 9/11 song sung by a little girl who lost her father and she said she will always leave the hall light on until he returns i dont remember what its called but its so sad..

its the 9/11 tribute song im not sure who sang it but its a remake of bryan adams-heaven. The little girl is commenting throughout the song whilst another girl sings..an originally sad song emphasised by the tragedy of 9/11

Ditto to Tears In Heaven. The song that personally makes me cry is Let Her Cry by Hootie and the Blowfish

And there's a song by Josh Woodward, a little known artist, called I'll Be Right Behind You Josephine which I think is about a guy watching his best friend die and always makes me feel desperately sad. Just one line in it, "And Jesus Christ if you tore my heart out, the only thing I'd feel is less alone"

I agree with you, and I can say so because I really love this song, I sang it so many times with the original, also I would like to say that some other sad songs are: Moody river, House of the rising sun, Ride on ( I have never seen this song on a list, What a shame). And this list is not bad, but too short. I like these songs as sad but it needs many others.

I think you should have included the song "One" by Metallica. It a sac song about a war injured man how lost his sight, his hearing, his legs and arms and his speech. he is breathing through a tube and longs either to die or to be in a freak show the show the horrors of war. the problem is he cannot communicate with anyone. it is the most sad song i have ever heard because i takes about a true story.

One isn’t based on any single story. It’s actually inspired by an anti war film called Johnny Got His Gun, which, again is based on a number of different incidents. The main character, Johnny, is eventually able to communicate through Morse Code, but otherwise still wishes for death. Not so much sad as epicly tragic.

The video ‘One” (and from what I’ve heard at least some of the inspiration for the song itself) is from the film Johnny Got His Gun which was directed by Dalton Trumbo, who also wrote the book. Not, as one commenter stated, based on “several” sources. Trumbo wrote the book in an attempt to keep the US out of WWII, then made the film during the 60s as an anti-war film about Vietnam. The book and the film are very powerful, and the history behind them are particularly interesting. Trumbo was one of the Hollywood people blacklisted by HUAC during McCarthyism because he was a member of the Communist Party.

little rosa is amazing it’s so sad and poetic, red sovine deserves a shout on his own just for this song but the when you consider he did teddy bear and wrote teddy bears last ride the man knows how to pull the heartstrings

Ok, I know this comment is 6 months past the actual post, but I never thought ANYONE would put down “A Little Fall of Rain”. Awesome! I cry every single time I hear that song, including the two times I saw the musical. Heartbreaking!!!

I definetely think
separate ways,
don’t cry daddy,
in the ghetto by elvis are some of the sadest songs I ever heard.
Burton cummings had some sad songs as well
timeless love,
stand tall,
tell them gently
these eyes

While I respect the fact that you have the right to your own opinion, I find these songs to be lacking true soulful expression and targeted toward an audience which has little appreciation for the complexities of music which cannot be achieved through the same three power chords played on repeat for three minutes. I would have to add that if you like Mad World, I find the version by Gary Jules to be much darker and reflective of what i believe the song’s intended meaning to be. There’s something about a synth band that doesn’t do a song of such great melancholy and self-examination justice.

I agree that it’s not quite “sad” — but somehow it’s above and beyond sad.
It’s like you’re hearing the voice of every man, woman, and child that’s ever ached in love, and God Himself saying, “there, there…” …but from a great distance, so you’re not even sure it’s Him you’re hearing. Maybe it was just the wind.
It’s one of the best hymns ever written.
I never understand how any performer can sing it all the way thru without losing it.
Much as I love Buckley’s cover, nobody does it like Leonard himself.
You.might also want to check out John Cale’s string trio arrangement, and kd lang’s version.

i'm just surfing around for different lists of sad songs and ran across your post. i really like your list. it's different than what i'd pick and that's what i like the most. i've enjoyed listening down your list and reading your commentary.

I've just recently stumbled across a guy called Barnaby Griffin on myspace who is unsigned but has some very sad and poignant songs. It's a shame he can't get them more professionally produced. My favorite is a story song called "Sad Eyes". It can be heard here, along with the rest of his sad songs.

I am trying to find a country song that talks about the guy setting around the table playing cards, drinking beer, having a good time, he gets news about his ill mother passing away. He leaves the game but; doesn't make it their in time.
I want that played at my funeral….

Also, i am trying to locate a song letting a daughter know I am sorry for all the bad times but; no matter what I still love you I need something similar preferably sang by a female and hope to see her in heaven when things will be all good.

Thanks, I love this site. I am a 64yr. old women who is ill and need to start thinging about these kind of things for the right time.
If I was suppossed to put my address at the top I am sorry.

Somewhere Out There by Linda Rondstant and James Ingram gets me every time one moment when i got especialy emotional over it was I was 10 years old at summer camp one of the councilers was playing a mix cd that she made and Somewhere Out There was on it and i was a little homesick and i was jist bawling like crazy.

The only one on here that could probably make me cry would be “Mother” by John Lennon. The rest, particularly The Card Cheat by The Clash, I never even thought of as particularly tear-jerking… or, really, sad at all.

Other than somewhere out there a few other songs that make me cry are
Goodbye Yellow brick road- Elton John
Don’t cry for me argentina – Evita
Speechless-Lady Gaga
Someday- Rob Thomas
If we hold on together – Diana Ross
Slipping through my fingers- Abba
Concrete Angel- martina Mc bride

1. Two Little Boys – Rolf Harris (I dare any man with a brother to listen to this all the way through and not get misty)
2. When She Loved Me – Sarah McLachlin (but only if you watch it with little Jesse getting dumped like that!)
3. The Long And Winding Road – Beatles (P. McCartney)
4. Vincent – Don McLean
5. Everybody Hurts (Sometime) – REM
6. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen (but never k. d. lang’s overblown, show-off version!)
7. Cat’s In the Cradle – Harry Chapin
8. With Or Without You – U2 (only after you’ve broken up with the girl you can’t live without)
9. The Little Drummer Boy / The Carol of the Drum – Katherine K Davis
10. For No One – Beatles (P. McCartney) – See comment for #8

To me the saddest song ever is Taion by The GazettE its a tribute to this girl named Junko Furuta who was held captive for 44 days, brutally tortured, raped repeatedly and finally died from shock after they burned her. Then they dumped her into a 55 gallon barrel and filled it with cement. The men didn’t even get life in jail because they ‘technically’ didn’t kill her since she died from shock. People even KNEW she was there and no one said anything because of them was apart of the Japanese Mafia and they were scared for their own lives.
Full story here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Junko_Furuta
The live version of Taion you can feel your heart breaking because of Ruki’s performance and his screams of agony. They did a fantastic job on the song.
Live Performance:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL9rlj2JCHs
I hope every time the men hear that song on the radio they feel sick and worthless.

Honestly, I don’t find Diary of Jane as sad as I find Dear Agony. It just completely tears me up every time. And Red is amazing. Never Be the Same gets to me sometimes. Louder Than Thunder is pretty sad too. I think Let it Die by Three Days Grace is a pretty hard one to listen to sometimes. And don’t even get me started on Remember Everything by Five Finger Death Punch. But you definitely have good taste in music.

Couldn’t agree more with Love You Should’ve Come Over. Jeff voice just touches my soul and gets the tears flowing. Have you heard his version of I Know It’s Over? The most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard, which added on to the fact that it’s as sad as hell makes me cry so much. If you’re looking for more sad songs, Jeff also does a gorgeous cover of Elton Johns; We All Fall In Love Sometimes. Breathtaking. And of course his flawless cover of Hallelujah. Thank you for regaining my hope in the musical tastes of others. Have a fabulous day.

Different people have different opinions and I respect them all. But I was surprised to see some of you suggest “You are not alone” by MJ, “the Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston or even “Love in this club” by Usher (What? I bet you were kidding!). I guess the reason why you listed them here is because they somehow touched your heart and even brought you to tears… But guys, there’s an obvious difference between the so-called sad songs and songs that can make you cry. I mean, sometimes a song that can make you cry is not necessarily a sad song. i.e: A song like “the Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston can make listeners cry because it has a moving humanitarian message about spiritual strength and self-pride, not because it is sad (Both its melody and lyrics are not sad at all). So pls be clear about that and don’t place it on the list of sad songs just because it makes you cry.

BTW, you guys all forget about instrumental songs. Some instrumental songs are even sadder than songs that have lyrics and vocals. Check out “Sadness and sorrow” (a song from Naruto anime) on youtube for example. Hope you’ll enjoy it